J's Cafe Nette

Archive for the ‘Courage’ Category

No opposing viewpoints welcome.

That seems to be the message Senate Majority Leader Reid is relaying in his refusal to meet face to face with his constituents:

The most powerful man in the Senate, Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), announced on Friday that as a result of recent protests at town hall meetings he won’t hold any such political gatherings during this month’s Congressional recess.

Instead, he will only do what’s called “telephone town halls” where he and his staff have complete control over the questions being asked and who’s asking them.

It takes a great deal of courage to defend ones position or beliefs. Opposition should be welcome, as it is the only tool by which those defending alternative views have the opportunity to not only express themselves, but better understand the ideas put forth by another.

Unfortunately, what we have seen in recent months on the part of many elected officials is the tendency to place blame, call names, and work in secrecy until prepared to ram a program or mass expenditure down the public’s throat. When questioned they appear offended, as though the right is theirs alone to determine the fate of each and every citizen.

Think for a moment about this quote:

Abraham Lincoln did not go to Gettysburg having commissioned a poll to find out what would sell in Gettysburg. There were no people with percentages for him, cautioning him about this group or that group or what they found in exit polls a year earlier. When will we have the courage of Lincoln?

Robert Coles

Those speaking out against a government run health care program who are willing to go face to face with their elected representative are showing the courage of their convictions. Those who run for political cover when it gets a bit hot in the kitchen (or polls are not in their favor), not so much.

Perhaps it is time for a thorough house cleaning. Public officials who refuse to meet with those who pay their salaries should be voted out of office at the earliest possible moment.

The only thing politicians on both sides of the aisle seem to understand is the prospect of their own unemployment.

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After thinking through my usual Friday-Fly-By, I happened upon a post (and the video below) at Blackfive which made anything political, humorous, or informational seem a bit insignificant.

Evan and his family serve as a reminder that no matter how bad things might seem in your life, you should always take the time to count your blessings.

If you would like to leave a message of encouragement for Evan you may do so by following the link provided by Matt Burden in the post acknowledged above.

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What do you do when you are ninety years old and lose seven hundred thousand dollars due to financial schemes devised by Bernie Madoff.

You go back to work:

What a sad but also inspiring story. Two individuals who should not have a worry in the world are devastated financially, yet there are no tears, no blame being afixed (and they would be more than justified).

Without a doubt, they are living proof that the old cliche,”money doesn’t buy happiness” is true.

The Thiermann’s are a wonderful example of those who have built and shaped this country for over 200 years.

Bernie Madoff and those of his persuasion should pay a huge penalty for what they have done, not only to these folks but countless others.

Related story here.

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The NYT reports Senator Johnson is doing well enough to seek re-election:

Senator Tim Johnson, a South Dakota Democrat who suffered a brain hemorrhage last December, announced yesterday that he would campaign next year for a third term.

“After months of rehabilitation and recovery, more than a month on the job in Washington and after my recent trips back to South Dakota, it is clear to my family, my doctors, and me that I am able to do the hard work required of a United States senator,” the 60-year-old Mr. Johnson said in a statement.

“I have said before,” the statement continued, “that I wanted to take this second chance at life and focus even harder on being the best advocate I can for the people of South Dakota.”

Here at ~J’s~, we have always wished the Senator well, and his recovery in such short order is an amazing feat. It is evident that Mr. Johnson has a strong will not only to live, but live productively and has a great family support base on which to draw.

Much continued good fortune to you Senator, and kudos to you for your perseverance and drive.

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Stu Byofsky has an op-ed up at Philly.com (Philadelphia Daily News) saying it will take another 9/11 to bring our country back together again.

ONE MONTH from The Anniversary, I’m thinking another 9/11 would help America.
What kind of a sick bastard would write such a thing?

A bastard so sick of how splintered we are politically – thanks mainly to our ineptitude in Iraq – that we have forgotten who the enemy is.

It is not Bush and it is not Hillary and it is not Daily Kos or Bill O’Reilly or Giuliani or Barack. It is global terrorists who use Islam to justify their hideous sins, including blowing up women and children.

Iraq has fractured the U.S. into jigsaw pieces of competing interests that encourage our enemies. We are deeply divided and division is weakness.

Most Americans today believe Iraq was a mistake. Why?

Not because Americans are “anti-war.”

Americans have turned their backs because the war has dragged on too long and we don’t have the patience for a long slog. We’ve been in Iraq for four years, but to some it seems like a century. In contrast, Britain just pulled its soldiers out of Northern Ireland where they had been, often being shot at, almost 40 years.

That’s not the American way.

In Iraq, we don’t believe our military is being beaten on the battleground. It’s more that there is no formal “battleground.” There is the drip of daily casualties and victory is not around the corner. Americans are impatient. We like fast food and fast war.

Americans loved the 1991 Gulf War. It raged for just 100 hours when George H.W. Bush ended it with a declaration of victory. He sent a half-million troops into harm’s way and we suffered fewer than 300 deaths.

America likes wars shorter than the World Series.

Bush I did everything right, Bush II did everything wrong – but he did it with the backing of Congress.

Because the war has been a botch so far, Democrats and Republicans are attacking one another, when they aren’t attacking themselves. The dialog of discord echoes across America.

Turn back to 9/11.

Remember the community of outrage and national resolve? America had not been so united since the first Day of Infamy – 12/7/41.

We knew who the enemy was then.

We knew who the enemy was shortly after 9/11.

Because we have mislaid 9/11, we have endless sideshow squabbles about whether the surge is working, if we are “safer” now, whether the FBI should listen in on foreign phone calls, whether cops should detain odd-acting “flying imams,” whether those plotting alleged attacks on Fort Dix or Kennedy airport are serious threats or amateur bumblers. We bicker over the trees while the forest is ablaze.

I’ve quoted most of the article because I think it’s a worthy read, and to an extent I agree with him, unfortunately.

Remember how united our citizens and Congress were after 9/11? We had our Congressmen and Senators on the Capitol steps (a presumed target of the terrorists) singing “God Bless America” and resolved to do whatever it took to beat back this enemy.

Our president told us this would be a long war that would not be a conventional war with conventional enemies. The enemy we have does not wear a uniform, but smiles to our faces while he sets IEDs to explode our vehicles and kill our soldiers and any civilians who happen to be in the way.

Some in Congress look at this from only a political view and wonder how it can help them and their party.

It’s gone so far that Congressman Clyburn of SC, the Democratic Whip in the House has stated if the Petraeus report is fairly positive about the surge (and we are reading articles by AP and Brookings Institution think tank people it is) that it would be bad news for the Democrats.

Why would winning or making progress toward peace in Iraq be bad news for anyone? It is only if your entire political campaign is based on us losing the peace there.

Let there be no mistake: We won the war in a matter of days. It’s the peace that is elusive and we have to leave with the country stable enough to defend itself or our efforts will have been in vain.

I know not everyone agrees with me, but that’s what I think and I really believe it.

I don’t want to test the theory it will take another 9/11 to bring us back together. I want our politicians to do things for the right reasons and those reasons do not include how it will help them get re-elected.

I’d actually love to see all 435 House seats get reversed and replaced with all new Congressmen who have no dog in this fight and will do what is right for our country. Then go home and live under the laws they pass, just as our Founders envisioned.

Captain Ed is blogging this story too.

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Those of us who have grandchildren are happy to hear them tell us how much they love us or get one of those wonderful hugs only they can give.

I cannot begin to imagine the range of emotions which ran through this man when considering an unusual request from his Grandfather..and how he will feel when his labor of love actually serves it purpose.

His first wooden box measured 18 inches long and 9 inches wide. Its base was painstakingly secured with dovetail joints in lieu of nails, beneath a delicate two-tiered handle. It’s just an ordinary toolbox, but its 28-year-old creator, Brandon Harris of St. Paul, has reason to call it “a pretty neat design.”

Harris’ second wooden box is a pretty neat design, too, also with dovetail joints. But it’s larger — in many ways. It is a Jewish burial casket made from solid cherry. Harris built it for his grandfather.

What an extraordinary task for a Grandson to undertake. What devotion not only to his Grandfather but also his Grandmother. What an absolutely heartwarming story.

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Not much time for commentary but this piece linked to from Drudge Report is something any animal lover should indulge in. The accompanying pictures make me wish I had the courage to do what this man does.

The king of the jungle doesn’t frighten the lion whisperer

Animal behaviourist Kevin Richardson has such an intimate bond with big cats that he can spend the night curled up with them without the slightest fear of attack.

Richardson, 32, who is based in a wildlife conservation area near Johannesburg in South Africa, works his unusual magic on other species too. Cheetahs, leopards and even unpredictable hyenas hold no threats for him.

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